The multi-million-pound transformation of Grosvenor Square has enhanced the historic square with substantial planting and an improved setting for its US American memorials. We acted as heritage consultant on this scheme which was led by Grosvenor, designed by Tonkin Liu and delivered by BPD.
- Sector
- Culture
- Tags
- Registered garden of special historic interest Grade II
- Service
- Heritage consultancy
Grosvenor Square was created in the 1720s when it was first laid out as the centrepiece of the Grosvenor residential Mayfair estate. It was the first oval-shaped, soft landscaped urban square in London. Once home to the first US ambassador to Britain and notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, the square evolved from its origins as a private garden for residents into a public square, when it was reordered as a memorial landscape after the Second World War.
Only the fourth redesign in the site's history, the new scheme pays homage to the original 1720s design, creating an oval-shaped lawn, framed by a new footpath and a surrounding richly planted woodland garden. The square features several memorials honouring the UK’s special relationship with the United States, including the Roosevelt Memorial, the Eagle Squadrons Memorial and a 9/11 remembrance garden, which undergone some restoration work and are integrated into the new design.
Our research and heritage planning negotiations helped unlock this transformation, which has delivered significantly increased biodiversity and amenity to Mayfair. The space now also features c. 70,000 new plants, 44 trees and c. 80,000 bulbs as well as a wetland area, increasing planting from 140sqm to 8,000sqm and creating a haven for wildlife and new habitats. Two new buildings provide an education space with café and a gardener’s facility.
Grosvenor Square’s reopening demonstrates how historic public spaces can be adapted to meet modern environmental and social challenges while preserving and enhancing their heritage and character. This redevelopment complements Grosvenor’s nearby South Molton Triangle project, which we are also advising on, set to create a vibrant mix of new offices, retail, cafes, restaurants and homes.
The reopening of Grosvenor Square is a very special moment for Grosvenor and for this part of London. The Square has been at the heart of Mayfair for three hundred years, and our responsibility has been to respect that history while ensuring it is ready to serve London for the next century. This transformation is about showing how historic urban spaces can work well for people, nature and the climate. We are grateful to the thousands of people who helped shape the project, including many young people whose ideas influenced the final design. I hope Grosvenor Square becomes a place where everyone can pause, explore and connect with nature in the heart of the city, and where future generations can develop a sense of wonder about the natural world.
Project Team
| Client | Grosvenor |
| Design architect | Tonkin Liu |
| Delivery architect | BDP |
| Heritage consultant | Donald Insall Associates |
| Planning consultant | Newmark |
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